The Ho Chi Minh Trail

Introduction

Millions of phrases have been in writing about the Vietnam War, and still, nearly 25 years after the fall of Saigon, the repercussions of that conflict extend to have an impact on the American psyche. John Prados' new book, The Blood Road: The Ho Chi Minh Trail and the Vietnam War, concentrates on the struggle for control of the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Ho Chi Minh Trail in Vietnam war

The famous Ho Chi Minh Trail was a primary route for moving North Vietnamese supplies into South Vietnam. The trail's history as a line of communication (LOC) dates back to World War II, when Vietminh bands trekked the same jungle paths. This LOC was evolved from the existing footpaths into a highly organized infiltration path for men and supplies. According to Gottlieb (89-169), in 1971 operation Lam Son 719 was designed to cute the Ho Chi Minh Trail and knock out communist bass in southern Laos. There were many problems though with the mission. There was a Cooper Church Ammendment which forbade American ground troops to invade Laos or Cambodia, so the US Air Force would have to carry out the mission. Tactical surprise was lost when the Vietnamese troops found out about the US mission. The bases were not taken and the Ho Chi Minh Trail was back in business within a week.

It seemed as if morale had completely died out and nothing was possible anymore. Out of frustration and desperation, Americans were evacuated out of Vietnam and by 1973; all troops had left South Vietnam. On June 13 of that year, a new accord was signed by the United States, North and South Vietnam, and the National Liberation Front strengthened the treaty of January 27(Gottlieb, 89-169).

The war ended with North Vietnam sweeping through the South. But what caused US policy to fail? It is still argued today why out of all the policies within presidential administrations, not one was successful enough to defeat Vietnam. Was is pride, the failure of the US to declare war in the beginning, poor strategy, or underestimating the enemy that caused the failure? Arguments can be given for all sides.

The Cold war came to Vietnam at the end of January 1950. The coming of the Cold War to Vietnam would had a powerful influence on Vietnamese-American relations and the making of post colonial Vietnam; shaping the division of Vietnam into north and south; the increasing centrality of Vietnam for US policy makers in the 60s and 70s, and other influences(McNamara, 74-258).

Otto Von Bismarck once said "Woe to the statesman whose reasons for entering a war do not appear as plausible at its end as at its beginning". Although this may be true, the war showed the US the limits of military power. After the war, many claimed the US developed the "Vietnam syndrome", as they were afraid to intervene any other foreign conflicts. Over the years, people have tried to understand the "truth" of the Vietnam War and we have definitely ...